Located on the southern tip of the Great Barrier Reef, roughly 80km northeast of Bundaberg, the only way on to reach Lady Elliot Island is via the air.

The plane ride is the first sense you’ll get of the laid back time to come, with the pilot casually dipping low to get a closer point out migrating whales passing through.

Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort is not particularly fancy, especially when compared to its GBR counterparts like Hayman or Hamilton, but it doesn't try to be.

Its luxury is really in what it's lacking. There are no hordes of people or mobile phone reception. It’s what a remote island is supposed to be – blissful isolation with stunning scenery.

“We try and keep this place affordable for ordinary people,” Peter Gash, managing director of the eco resort.

“If we don’t bring the ordinary people out here, we don’t inspire those ordinary young men and women who are going to make the difference."

Gash's goal is for guests to leave the island with a new appreciation for the delicate Great Barrier Reef ecosystem and a drive to improve the environment.

He says the resort never has more than 125 guests overnight, which lowers the impact on the environment and gives the island its secluded feel. “We’re keeping it really low key,” he adds.

Low key is bang on. This is a place where Crocs aren’t just accepted, but are openly encouraged as protective gear for reef walking.

As Lady Elliott Island part of a highly-protected green zone, there’s an emphasis on keeping things sustainable and eco-friendly. But don’t assume that “eco-friendly” means drop toilets and tents.

The island has all the things you want in a secluded resort – an overwhelming breakfast buffet, a cocktail menu and beachside bar service at sunset – without all the pretentious pomp.

It’s a bit like school camp but better, because there’s pina coladas.

The island is famed for its wildlife, making it a ripper spot to kick off your quest to spot Queensland’s answer to Africa’s Big Five – the Great Eight.

If you’re not familiar with the Great Eight, it has nothing to do with how many wins the Maroons had over the Blues in a consecutive streak.

The Great Eight is a bunch of underwater marvels that call the sunshine state’s waters home – whales, sharks, turtles, clownfish, giant clams, manta rays, the brightly-coloured Maori wrasse and the obscenely-large potato cod.

With the guidance of stereotypically chilled-out but enthusiastic scuba instructors, you can get right up close to the stunning coral formations and the kind of animals you’ve only seen in Finding Nemo.

But you don’t need to suit up with an air tank to take in the underwater beauty.

Just a short a paddle over the reef takes you feeding areas where you can snorkel with rays the size of a sensible family vehcile – the ones with dickie seats.

On the other side of the island is a lagoon where friendly turtles will come right up close as if to say hello.

"They’re comfortable with people,” Gash says. “20 years ago people were still hunting. When you’re catching fish all the animals know that people are predators."

"There’s been no threat for a long time so all the animals are completely relaxed. It’s a bit like the Galapagos Islands I guess."

It sounds like a stretch, but you’ll soon see what he means.

The calm nature of the sea creatures – except the tiny but territorial farmer damselfish – is infectious. Even swimming alongside a shark is a surprisingly relaxing encounter.

Most guests hang about for five nights, which is probably about the time you need to take this place in.

If you come here, allow yourself enough time to do everything and then nothing – and maybe start to become a little bored.

As great as the scheduled activities are, there’s an opportunity for unplanned, smartphone-free downtime that must be taken advantage of.

Because, just like school camp, the free time is where most of the magic happens.

The activities centre is like a portal to another time when – as clichéd as this may sound – things were simpler.

You’ll find a cupboard stacked with an impressive collection of all the board games of your past.

The entertainment comes in the form of an extensive VHS library containing all the old favourites you completely forgot you loved because they’re not on Netflix.

I’m talking The First Wives Club, Jerry Maguire, heck, even The Adams Family Values.

You can play round upon round of table tennis, or borrow a ball and relive the humble joys of the “don’t let the ball touch the ground” game.

Sure, come here with your kids if you want but this would also be the place to come with old childhood mates or a grown-up sibling retreat.

Whoever you take, make the most of it because despite being low key, a trip to Lady Elliott Island is still something to save up for.

Packages start at around $700 for five nights' accommodation with daily breakfast and dinner, plus airfare transfers that go for $310 for adults.